Are there state or national guidelines for investigating sudden unexpected deaths of children?
Death investigations vary widely throughout the United States and abroad. Virtually all states in the United States mandate autopsy examination in cases of sudden death in infancy. Although cases of SUDC would legally fall under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner, autopsy examination may not be performed in some jurisdictions. This is especially true if the attending physician is willing to sign a death certificate. The postmortem evaluation of a case of SUDC may not be as comprehensive or systematic as in cases of sudden unexplained death in infancy. For example, even though an autopsy is performed, important ancillary studies, such as metabolic analysis, may have been omitted. Standardized protocols for both death scene investigation and postmortem examination in sudden unexplained infant death that have been endorsed by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) and the Society for Pediatric Pathology. However, there are no mandated protocols for cases of
Related Questions
- Are there any organisations that offer support to relatives and friends that experience sudden and unexpected deaths?
- How do Mother Goose Programs™ tie into guidelines from the National Association for the Education of Young Children?
- Are there state or national guidelines for investigating the sudden death of infants?
